Zes karikaturale mannenhoofden 1856 - 1897

Editor: Here we have Henri-Charles Guérard's "Six Caricatural Male Heads" made between 1856 and 1897. It's an engraving, so a print made using a pretty labor-intensive process, and the faces are so expressive and distinct! What can you tell me about it from your perspective? Curator: The immediate thing that jumps out at me is how this work interrogates the divide between 'high art' portraiture and popular, accessible forms like caricature. The printmaking process itself, particularly engraving, democratized image production; copies could be reproduced en masse. What implications might this have for traditional notions of artistic value and the 'aura' of the original artwork? Editor: That's interesting, I never thought about how printmaking makes art more accessible! But how does the material relate to the social aspect you mention? Curator: Consider the kind of labor involved. Engraving is incredibly skilled and time-consuming, almost craft-like. Yet, this level of dedication is put towards *caricature*, a genre often seen as 'lowbrow.' This contrast makes us question hierarchies inherent to the art world, no? Who dictates what materials and processes are worthy of serious artistic attention, and why? Editor: I see what you mean, almost like elevating the everyday person and process… and questioning if art is supposed to be ‘serious’ at all! Curator: Precisely! Also, think about the materials themselves – copper plate, ink, paper. Their cost and accessibility would influence who could produce and consume these images. Mass production facilitated circulation to wider audiences. Editor: So by understanding the means of production we can begin to think about what the artist valued and even more the society in which he lived… Very insightful, thank you! Curator: And perhaps also consider how we consume art today in our own technological age. Food for thought.